Toward Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable Populations: Issues for Policymakers’ Consideration in Integrating a Safety Net into Health Care Reform Implementation
A 2011 Commonwealth Fund poll found that 98 percent of responding national health care opinion leaders believe that traditional safety net providers will still fulfill critical roles after implementation of the ACA. With the support of The Commonwealth Fund, NASHP formed the National Workgroup on Integrating a Safety Net into Health Care Reform Implementation to inform national and state policy development in addressing the roles of safety net providers in implementation of the ACA. This brief describes 10 overarching issues that the National Workgroup identified as ones that policymakers concerned with the safety net will need to consider in order to achieve health care reform goals, particularly for vulnerable populations.
| safety.net_.hcr_.pdf | 161.8 KB |
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
